Garter and clasp therefor



Oct. 10, 1933. F. ELLINGER 1,929,683

GARTER AND CLASP THEREFOR Filed June 8. 1932 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYcS.

.-30 clasps are relatively flat and compact so `as not UNITE STAPatented Oct. 10, 1933 e 1,929,683 @ARTER AND oLAsP- THEREFOR FloraEui'nger, Milwaukee Wis. Application June 8, 1932. Serial No. 615,978

2 Claims.

; 5 and having clasp means at the other end portion `for engagement withthe upper portion of a stocking.

In womens apparel it is customary forv inner garments such as corsets,girdles and the like toA have garters ,depended therefrom, and insucharrangements the upper ends of the garters are non-detachably secured orsewed to such garments, while the lower ends of the garters are providedwith the usual clasps for engaging the hose. |This arrangement is opento the objection that the garters vare* not readily detachable from thegarments carrying the same for replacement, repairs or laundering.

It is, therefore, one ofthe objects of the present invention to providea ladies garterhaving clasp means at one end portion for detachableconnection with asupporting garment and having clasp means at theotherend portionfor detachable connection with hose to be supported bythe garter, theelastic or strap portion of the garter being adjustablyconnected with one of said clasp members whereby the lengthof the gartermay be readily varied. Y.

A further object of the invention is to provide a garter-equipped ywithmetallic clasps, which to form. objectionable protuberances visiblethrough the outergarments of thewearer and so as not to interfere withthe comfort of the wearer. f l e -A further object `of the invention isto. provide a garter equipped with metallic clasps which are arranged tobecovered on one surface by portions of the garter or the garments towhich they are attached so. as not to-contact directly with the esl'i ofthe wearer.

A further object of the invention is to provide a garter equipped withattaching clasps which will firmly engage the apparel to which.- theyare attached, vbut which will not cause bunching of said apparel, norwill the clasps strain, tear or cause runs in hosiery or the like.

A further object of the invention is to providel Va garter consisting ofa strip of elastic material 1 carrying substantially duplicate claspsvat opposite ends, said clasps being easily manipulated but adapted tofirmly but non-damagingly engage fabrics.

A further object of the invention is to provide l garters land claspstherefor which are of very simple construction, are inexpensive tomanufacfture, are strong and durable, and are well adapted, for thepurposes set forth. i With the above and other objects` in vew.theinvention consists of the improved garter and. clasps therefor, andtheir parts andcombinations as` set forth in the claims, and allvequivalents thereof. f v y v In the accompanying drawing in which thesame reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the views: Y

Fig. vl is a `front view of the improved garter with the upper claspshown engaged with a fragment of a garment such as a girdle, andthelower claspjengaged with a stocking; f Y

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front view of the upper clasp of the garter; I

TES Pilrla:NrV orriceA Fig. 3 is a side View thereofshowing thefclaspview of the upperclasprtaken'on line of Fig. 1; i

Fig. 5 isa front View Vof a slightly modified form of,v clasp, the,clasp` being shown in open. position; and y Fig; 6 is a longitudinalsectional view of said form of clasp in closed position `and applied toa garment. v Y

Referring now more particularlyto the drawing, it will appear that aladies inner garment such asa girdle or the like, is indicated by the'numeral 9, while a stocking is indicated by the numeral 10. Theimprovedy garter, designated generally by the numeral 11, is adapted tobe interposed between a lower portion of the girdle 9 and an upperportion of the stocking 10, being detachably secured in dependingposition tothe former by anupper clasp 12 and being secured to thelatter by la lower clasp 13. rBoth of the clasps 12 and 13 in all majorcharacteristics are substantially identical and are carried by'oppositeend'portions of an elastic strip 18. v

The upper clasp 12y is shown at the upper end portion of the elasticstrip in Fig. 1 and in detail in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. Said clasp comprisesan inner plate 14, a pivotal frame 15 pivotally connected with the innerplate, and an outer plate 16 pivotally carried by the frame 15. The-inner end portion of the inner plate 14 isformed with an integraltransverse slotted frame 17 through 'which the upper end portion of theelastic strip 18 is adapted to extend, and said strip and clasp areadjustable relative to one another, being retained in adjusted positionby means of teeth or projections 19 formed on the slotted frame toengage the strip. The other or free end of said inner plate 14 is formedwith an inturned hook 20.

The pivotal frame 15 comprises a pair of side arms joined at their outerends by a transverse bar. The inner ends of said arms are pivotallyconnected, as at 21, to opposed inturned lugs 22 projecting from a faceof the inner pla'te 14.

The outer plate 16 corresponds in general in shape and proportions tothe inner plate, and said outer plate, inwardly of the upper endthereof, is pivotally attached to the transverse bar portion of theframe 15, said pivotal connections being indicated by the numerals 23.The lower edge of said plate 16 is formed with a projecting lip 24 to beengaged by a nger-nail for purposes of manipulating the clasp, while theopposite or upper end of the plate 16 is provided with an inwardlyangled tongue 25 to engage in the hook 20 of the inner plate when theclasp is closed.

The upper clasp member of the improved garter is for the purpose ofreadily detachably securing the garter to a ladies inner'garment, suchas a girdle, to permit the garter to depend therefrom. To engage theclasp with the garment 9, said clasp is rst opened relatively fully, asshown in full lines in Fig. 3, and Vthen the lower edge portion of thegarment is eX- tended so as to overlap the inner plate 14 of the clasp.Next, the outer plate is moved upwardly, inwardly through the positionshown in broken lines to ultimately engage the tongue 25 under the hook20 and thereby clampingly confine the portion of the garment betweenportions of the inner plate and the pivotal frame and Vouter plate. Thepivotal vframe, withY its pivotal con-l nections with the plates 14 and16, permits these movements and in the closed position illustrated inFigs. 1 and 4, the outer plate occupies a flat, compact positionrelative to the other parts and stays in this position against undesireddislodgment due to the fact that the pivotal frame serves as a toggleand the pivotal connections are on opposite sides oi the longitudinalcenter line.

It is to be noted that the free upper end portion of the elastic strip18 of the garter is extended on the inner surface of the garment 9 sothat the clasp is actually connedbetween'the strip 18 and garment 9,whereby the flesh of the wearer is protected against direct contact withthe metallic clasp. As before noted, adjustments to lengthen or shortenthe garter are easily accomplished either with the upper clasp free, orin its engaged position.

The lowerclasp member, designated generally by the numeral 13, ispractically identical in construction with the upper clasp member exceptthat it is directed in the oppositedirection, and the upper end portionof the lower plateth'ereof is formed with apertured ears 26 throughwhich the lower plate is sewed to the lower end-portion of the elasticstrip 18, as at 27.

For the purpose of supporting a stocking, the

lower clasp member is engaged with the upper Y portion of the stocking10, asshown in Fig. 1, and the clasping engagement and manipulation ofsaid lower clasp member is the same as that described in connection withthe upper clasp member. Both clasp members in engaged closed positionsare very flat and compact and do not form objectionable protuberances.Also, the clasps engage the garments without any material bunching, andin the case of a hose no undue strain is imposed thereon, and it is notdamaging to the sheerest type or" hosiery.

In Figs. 5 and 6, a slightly modified type of clasp is illustrated whichis applicable to either end portion of the garter elastic strip, or toboth end portions. The clasp illustrated is intended for the upperportion of the strip because of the integral slotted bar portion 17. butthe inner plate 14 may be modified to eliminate said bar to be providedwith ears like those at 26 in Fig. 1 for sewed attachment to the elasticstrip. The difference in said modied formV of clasp lies in the free endofthe inner plate 14 which is raised and slotted as at 20', and intosaid slotted portion the tongue 25' of the outer plate 16 is adapted toextend.

While the improved form of clasp is especially suitable for garters andthe like, it should be understood that it may have, within the scope ofthe invention, a vmorer general application, as it may be used wherevera compact'and effective type of clasp is required in connection withgarments, apparel and elsewhere.

From the foregoing description it will appear that the improved garterand clasps therefor are simple and novel, and are well adaptedv for thepurposes set forth.

What is claimed as the invention-is;y

l. A clasp, comprising al base plate having an angled catch portion, andtoggle Vmeanssecured to said base plate remote from the catch portionand having an inwardly angled tongue, a. substantial-surface portion ofVthe'tongue being relcasably engageable with an area of said catchportion in a superimposed position of the toggle means with respect tothe base plate, the contacting surfaces ci the tongue and the catchbeing ilat and of relatively large area, whereby a piece of iexiblematerial may be clamped between said contacting surface portions "ofsaidY tongue and catch. Y' v 2. A clasp, comprising a base plate vhavinga catch portion, and toggle means secured to said base plate remote fromthe catch portion and having an inwardly angled tongue releasablyengageable with said catch portion whereby a piece of flexible materialmay be clamped between surfaces of said tongue and catch portions, saidclamping vsurfaces of the tongue and catch portions being flat and ofrelatively large area, said base plate having an integral serrated loopportion whereby a strap may be releasably secured through said loopportion.

FLORA ELLINGER.

